St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-24
TOLD BY SEA CAPTAIN.
A Love II OMance which Began anu
Ended OF Water.


Darien (Ga.) Special to Atlanta Constitution
Three ly-cOuntenanced men sat up in
the Firemens Hall the other evening en-
yelOped in a dense cloud of fragrant smoke
Their appearance indicated that they were
sea captains. Here is to auld lang syne -
said one, land make the devil take low
freights and adverse Winds" The toast
was drank enthusiastically. speaking of
auld lang syne, )" rejoined another. reminds
me of an adventure in my life that for ro-
nance and sadness is hard to beat The
weather. beaten countenance assumed sad
expression, and a slight tremor became no.
ticeable in the speakers voice. L was
young, them" he continued "a regular
happy-go-lucky- "A years OF age,
and in command of as pretty and fast a
craft as ever skinned the Atlantic, Socs-
kummeren' (the sea-skimmer). of Avendal.
Norway. Well, as fate would have it. an
old Norwegian captain invited NE aboard of
his vessel. while lying in Oporto. 1t was
here [ met the fairy for the preservation of
whose life l afterward recklessly risked
mine, it is only due to her. though, to say
that if ever human frame were endowed
with heavenly qualities, this young daughter
of typical old sea-dog could boast of
them. not only fell desperately in love
with this fair maiden, but became perfectly
ObliviOuS to every thing else. When with
her | imagined the very atmosphere was
impregnated with hallowed sweetness
when away from her the world seemed dark
and dreary For two weeks the Socskum-
meren had been ready for sea- but despite
determined efforts to overcome my infatua-
ton. | could not leave the place where she
still fingered. She held me bound in fet-
tiers, which, though invisible, were stronger
than the stoutest of iron. Day after day
my conscience occasionally upraided my
weakness. but only moment after hugged
the chain that kept me prisoner, At
last the old craft containing my treasure left
the harbOr. SOcskummeren soon followed
suit, and with the lmpatience of prancing
steed she seemed anxious to pass the vessel
l loved so we'll to follow. l gave orders to
shorten sail and for days | managed the
Socskummeren's speed so as to remain be-
side her. We had arranged code of sig
mails, and long after the sun had sunk in the
west or before it had commenced to purple
the eastern sky L stood on the Socskum-
meren's deck gazing at her. At last during
squally night we lost sight of her. [
secured the ocean mall directions but fruit
lessly. Three solid weeks had passed and
not glimpse obtained of the other vessel.
One day when off the Bahamas we got into
one of the most violent nOrthers L had ever
experienced. With all her stanchness and
seaworthy qualities. even the SocsI1ummeren
Jared badly. storm of ten hours duration
had stirred the waters up terribly. The
atmosphere was haZy, and it was impossible
to see any thing more than about five hun
dred yards distance. Judge. then of nv
surprise when suddenly a green-panted
hulk, mastleSs and unnavigable, made its
appearance on the scene. With one hand
held the spy-glass and with the other |
grasped the rigging. On discovering the
situation all fear for the safety of myself.
crew and vessel vanished. On the quarter
deck, clinging to the railing, | saw the one
who was dearer to ME than ANYTHING on
earth, and a few feet distant, as it seemed.
in supreme desperation, stood her aged,
silvery whiskered father. | immediately
gave orders to launch the largest boat. and
four brave-hearted young sailors generously
volunteered to accompany Inc on my DAN
gerOuS mission. A few minutes after and
we could only see the Socskummeren when
simultaneously on the crests of some gigan-
ticswaves. By dint of a superhuman deter
mination to save herlife, succeeded in get
ting her from the wreck into my boat. How,
| but indistinctly remember | recollect,
however, OH returning that when huge
wave dashed our frail boat against the
Socskummeren managed, with her in one
arm, to grasp the rigging and remain OH
board while the poor sailors found watery
grave. After being safe on board the
Socskumneren her first query was. Where
is my father?" While gazing around va
cantly her eye caught the green painted.
storm tossed wreck, and her aged father
still clinging to it. A scream as loud as
storm birds came from her, she freed my
self from her grasp and plunged overheard.
In a moment had a line around my waist
and plunged after her. l was hauled aboard
again, bruised, battered and insensible.
The ocean holds my first and only love-"